Five Star United Crush Latics At Gallowgate

NEWCASTLE UNITED RES 5
WIGAN ATHLETIC RES 0
Barclays Premier Reserve League
St.James' Park
Monday, February 9, 2009

Craig Hope reports from St.James' Park ...
SPANISH striker Xisco hit a late brace as an irresistible Newcastle United Reserves put five past Wigan Athletic at St.James' Park.
The 22-year-old, a late substitute during Saturday's 3-2 win at West Brom, was starting his first game since September as part of a strong second-string side which also included Alan Smith, wearing the captain's armband, and Claudio Cacapa.
And it was the Magpies who started the brighter of the two teams as they laid siege to the Wigan goal inside the opening half hour.

Kazenga LuaLua, scorer of two long-range efforts during last week's FA Youth Cup defeat at Man City, was first to have a go as he tried his luck from distance only to be denied by keeper Callum Williams as early as the 5th minute.
Xisco then showed a sharp turn of foot to manufacture space for a shot but his arrowed 20-yard strike whistled wide of the upright.
It was all Newcastle during the early exchanges and a magnificent move involving Darren Lough, LuaLua and Frank Wiafe Danquah fashioned an opening for David Edgar on 13 minutes.
The Canadian, afforded time and space 25 yards from goal, advanced towards the Latics penalty area before seeing a stinging drive diverted around the post by the fingertips of a full-stretch Williams.
Wigan responded and came within inches of snatching an unlikely lead when full-back Jordan Mustoe shaved the frame of Fraser Forster's target with a rising strike from outside the area.
Xisco, operating at the forefront of a three-pronged attack alongside LuaLua and Danquah, was then thwarted by the feet of Williams after he had robbed centre-back Lewis Field just ten yards from goal.
Danquah's withdrawn role was causing the visitors all manner of problems and it was from his slipped throughball that the forward-running Mark Doninger burst into the danger zone.
The United midfielder held off the attentions of two blue-and-white shirts but was unlucky to see his snap shot deflected over the crossbar via the shins of the sliding Field.
But the breakthrough eventually came just after the half-hour mark, Claudio Cacapa stabbing home from close range after Xisco had tried to bundle in Edgar's headed knockdown from Doninger's whipped flag-kick.
The goal of the game, and what would've been a contender for goal of the season, should have came in the 54th minute.
LuaLua played a sharp wall pass into Danquah before darting onto the return and into the Wigan danger zone.
Still faced with two Latics defenders between himself and the goal, the Congolese youngster skipped by their attempted resistance with frightening ease.
Williams then rushed from his line to block but again LuaLua danced around his grounded frame.
The keeper had at least forced the Toon man wide and it was the narrow angle which ultimately robbed LuaLua of a deserved goal as his low shot rolled agonisingly across the six-yard area and away for a goal kick.
But that warning proved to be an ominous one for Wigan and the 18-year-old got his goal on the hour mark, this time sending a 20-yard curler beyond the despairing dive of Williams and into the bottom corner.
Xisco then got in on the act with a late double for what were his first goals since his debut strike against Hull City back in September.
Donaldson was the architect of the striker's first on 77 minutes, his forward surge and subsequent throughball finished low past Williams by the former Deportivo man.
The second came with eight minutes remaining, Jonny Godsmark picking out the Spain Under-21 ace unmarked on the penalty spot before he sent a half-volley into the bottom corner.
And the scoring was complete within 60 seconds, Xisco denied a hat-trick by the fingertips of Williams only for Nile Ranger to force home the rebound for his 20th for the club.
NUFC: Fraser Forster, James Tavernier, Darren Lough (Shane Ferguson, 36m), Mark Doninger (Nile Ranger, 81m), Claudio Cacapa, David Edgar, Ryan Donaldson, Kazenga LuaLua, Xisco, Alan Smith, Frank Wiafe Danquah (Jonny Godsmark, 71m)
Subs not used: Max Johnson, James Taylor